Managing Grasslands, Shrublands, and Young Forest Habitats for Wildlife
A Guide for the Northeast

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife is pleased to present "Managing Grasslands, Shrublands and Young Forests for Wildlife: A Guide for the Northeast" as a valued reference for landowners interested in enhancing habitats for wildlife use. The guide, developed by the Northeast Upland Habitat Technical Committee in 2006, outlines specific management practices necessary to create or maintain early successional and young forest habitats in the northeastern United States.

Seventy percent of grassland bird species (including bobwhite quail) and reptiles such as black racers and wood turtles have significantly declined since the mid-1960s. The same is true for 48 percent of shrubland bird species, New England cottontail and many butterfly species.

Active management can create the vegetative conditions many early-successional species depend upon. When practiced across essentially forested landscapes, a broad array of wildlife habitat values can be enhanced as well as conserved without sacrificing mature forest values. Whether it is a 5-acre grassland, a 20-acre old field, or a woodlot of 100 acres or more, this publication can be of tremendous benefit to property owners and managers. Each chapter contains detailed information about managing these habitats. There are also case studies to serve as models to follow, as well as a chapter devoted to financial funding opportunities.

Each chapter of the guide is available in PDF format; clicking on a link will open the chapter in a new tab or window.